Another year older...

So yesterday was the big 4-1. It really sucks compared to 40 as that was all one huge celebration and this wasn't much of anything in terms of celebrating. It's 9 years from 50, and I still feel about 27! We spent the day with a Memorial Day parade right outside. We saw Mayor Bloomberg, he looked up at us hanging out the window and waved, that was a nice treat, he's been the Mayor for years and I've never seen him in person. He actually seems like a great guy and pretty awesome of him to be walking the streets of Brooklyn on a holiday w/end when he could be off on a yacht in the med.

Then we went to Coney Island with Denim and co for the morning, super fun. The rides were great, apart from Margaux not digging the swinging ferris wheel and clinging to Joe for dear life. We decided (along with half of Brooklyn) to stop in Ikea on the way back and get a new couch, Here is Margaux destroying her ice-cream and trying to hand it to me so I then got covered. Joe tied it to the roof and I drove home on the BQE doing about 40 mph as I could see it falling off at any given second. Nervewracking... A sofa tied to the roof with some twine didn't do my heart any favours!! Thankfully it didn't fall off, and now have a lovely new couch that is also a bed so we can have visitors again!!

Topped off the day with dinner in Queens at an Italian that was really hyped about but wasn't that great but it was fun to be with hubby for the night. Then got back and found out my sitter of four years has got another job so she quit on me, no notice!! Happy Birthday to me!!

My kids like to draw... On themselves

Yapping on the phone to mi amigo in London, and got distracted, then walk into the living room to discover Margaux got a hold of something 'orange'.

She really is her brother's sister...

Sex and the City Day

Yesterday I had such a glam - very New York City - day.

First was lunch at Pastis, sitting outside. Always a treat, although no celeb sightings. Then I went to the David Letterman taping which Joe wanted to do as the Black Keys were playing and he's a huge fan. Letterman's guest was Sarah Jessica Parker, she was great, her body is ridiculous, her shoes were stunning and she was charming with Letterman. The Black Keys were amazing, I could have heard more of them.

After a quick cocktail with Joe at the Shoreham hotel (really cool bar) I then walked to the Paris theatre for a special screening of the new movie, Sex and The City 2 (even more Sarah Jessica Parker!).... It was great, although a bit on the long side. Kim Cattrall nailed it, she was sheer brilliance. My only complaint that it was 2 and a HALF hours... That was torture after sitting in the cramped seats in the Letterman theatre but hey, my butt has enough cushion as you all know.

Then there was the after party at Bergdorf Goodman. It was fancy and very Sex and The City. I had about 5 cosmos and had the courage to ask one of the stars of the movie, Willie Garson who plays Stamford to have my photo taken. He was really cool and a great sport.

My feet were killing, and today my head is throbbing but it was all worth it for such a fabulous day/evening.

Empire State of Mind

The weather is finally gorgeous. Catching up to England so I hear - take that Pilates Man!!

Anyway, Joe didn't have work yesterday and Spencer didn't have school so we gave Spence an option - to go to the Statue of Liberty on a boat or the Empire State on a train (subway but he doesn't yet know the difference!) he picked the Empire State and here are a few pics.

Margaux and I were criminally stuck indoors waiting for the cable guy..Who came, gave us a dud box, then after me hysterically screaming to Time Warner, who suck more than is possible, we had to wait another two hours for him to come back. We were indoors till 4pm. She decided to get out the Moses basket she slept in as a baby and here are some shots of that. Check out how long she is getting!!

Off to Philly today to drop the kids of for the w/end with Joe's parents so we can get a gazillion things done in our little 2 bed palace. A 6 hour drive in what is going to be another gorgeous day. Grrrr.. I am going to be as white as my mate Brom if this continues...

Babies, Rain and Vegan Lunches

Busy day yesterday.
First of all, the weather was hideous. I mean rain coming from every direction... I went to pilates in the morning (started this a few weeks ago after someone offered me a seat on the subway, clearly thinking I was about 7 months pregnant). That wasn't the first time that had happened so I decided something needed to be done. Then my pilates instructor says, as I walk in, sans brolly looking like a drowned rodent 'oh, must remind you of home'. Why does everyone go on and on about the weather in England. It's not that bad!!! I just read online that they were going to have an 80 degree w/end!!! It's only 70's here, what do they all know?!

Then I had a date with my friend Karen in town. We decided on lunch and a movie. Karen always picks these interesting, vegan, organic restaurants, that I'm always skeptical about, but this one was really good!! I'm not saying that it's somewhere I would go to on a regular basis, as those of you that know me, know how much I love chips/dips/fried, greasy food but I wouldn't NOT come here again - it's called Caravan of Dreams in the East Village www.caravanofdreams.net

Then we walked (in the chucking down rain) to the Sunshine Cinema (how ironic with the rain) to see Babies. It's a really cute, 79 minute documentary on four different babies and the first years of their (different in every possible way) lives. I really recommend it. 79 minutes of no narration, barely any spoken words, and yet it works. It flew by, and I did shed a tear or two. Upon leaving the Sunshine, it really was coming down even more, so we decided to take refuge in Whole Foods for it to abate (it didn't). Now one thing about Karen, she is single, and always glamorous and always makes me feel and look like old mother hubbard next to her. So I put on my cute, baby Phat flats and a cute top. She of course was sensible yday and wore a proper coat and rain boots (but still managed to look glamorous). I was soaked. My feet were slipping all over the place. It was like slathering vaseline on your feet and walking around the edge of a swimming pool.

So, go see babies, eat at organic vegan restaurants, and you will have a pretty good day!

Busy and fun w/end, without going more than half a mile!

I love Brooklyn for many reasons, but this time of the year, it's always great here. This w/end there was so much going on and it was all right here in Williamsburg.
Saturday we had the Kite Festival - here is Spence being taught the finer point of kiteflying by Denim's dad (Joe was home napping with Margaux). Saturday night we had a grown up dinner out at a friends house where I made a trifle.

I had attempted to make the custard home made that morning ala Gordon Ramsay's Cooking with Friends, but I scrambled the eggs - I really think it was Gordon's fault, I followed the instructions to a tee- so resorted to using Birds Custard Powder from my Brit drawer and it was just fine!

Sunday there was the Williamsburg Food Festival - mob scene, but really fun. Followed by a fourth bday party for one of Spencer's buddies. Here he is about the play 'tail on donkey'. He kept trying to take his t-shirt off. Note the Ben 10 watch - his new obsession.

Me and Obama, always on the same wavelength

I had a night out in Manhattan last week to celebrate a few friend's birthdays. I decided to choose a day that President Obama would be in town also. That's about as far as our similarities went. He was staying at the St. Regis, I was travelling the G to the E train. When I came out of the train, this is the crowd I had to fight through to get to the restaurant. When I inquired what it was for as I was blissfully ignorant at this point, I was told it was Obama, and he didn't emerge for 2 more hours. These people waited around for the slightest glimpse of him - NUTS!!

We proceeded to Beacon restaurant to a fun night, until this British woman (they are SO rude) came over to our table and basically told us all to shut up as we were being so loud!! Damn Brits.

Corrine Bailey Rae

I was so lucky to get to go to the recent Corrine Bailey Rae concert in Brooklyn.. I know it looks like I was miles away, but I took ti with my crappy phone!! She was unbelievable and so, so, so, talented.. She literally blew me away. She was so cute in her white jumper suit (only she could pull it off) and her voice, literally drove me to tears... She is one hell of a performer and I hope she soars...I beseech all of you to buy her new album!!

New York - this is why I Love it

I miss London.. I really, truly do.. It's where I was born, where I feel my blood flows more freely, where my heart pumps faster, but I have to admit... that New York, is a close second and maybe that's where I'm am, and clearly meant to be...Those of you that know me, know my checkered dating history in NY and may beg to differ...!!!

For instance, on Tuesday, I found myself with no kids for the day and Joe's job got (unfortunately) cancelled.. So we decided to have a last minute date. I fancied Greek food but didn't want to go into Manhattan... I broke out Zagats (much to Joe's dismay) and decided we would have a date at 'Taverna Kyclades' in Astoria, Queens... WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!! First of all, this is what I LOVE about NY.. You can wake up and say.. 'I want.. Greek, Indian, Korean, Italian, Spanish, Swiss, Tibetan... etc, etc... and you can GET IT, within 20 minutes and it's guaranteed to be 'amazing' due to the melting pot that is NYC!! I digress (what's new!) and let me tell you, it was a great, culinary experience and forget Manhattan, Queens has equally impressive restaurants for half the price.. We had the meal of a life time, in fact, a butterfly descended on Joe's head during lunch and wouldn't leave!! We thought it was as omen, but we are still waiting to see what that omen was!!